This is the Pure Movies review of Stronger, directed by David Gordon Green and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Tatiana Maslany, Miranda Richardson, Richard Lane Jr. and Nate Richman.
It’s very easy to look upon film adaptations of real-life atrocities with a healthy degree of cynicism. ‘How can you even think about converting tragedy into commercial product?’ you might think, and sometimes this is a perfectly valid question. More often than not, though, such works can shed an illuminating light on the national psyche, whether it’s a nuanced rumination on the complexity of understanding random acts of violence (Elephant), a visceral dramatisation of one of the defining moments in modern history (United 93) or a simple act of providing a human face to an all-too-common headline (Fruitvale Station). Stronger, David Gordon Green’s contribution to the dialogue, takes a story that could easily become mired in cloying gung-ho American flag-waving and,
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Fresh off the New York Film Festival, Sean Baker’s acclaimed “The Florida Project” (A24) sprinted ahead of the over-crowded fall specialty pack, as some 35 titles launched in limited runs this weekend. Backed by some of the best reviews of the year, the Cannes pickup marks Baker’s breakout following succès d’estime “Tangerine.”

“Victoria & Abdul” (Focus) is setting the early pace for this awards season’s contenders, with Judi Dench showing yet again her strength as a draw.

Most other openings appealed to niche audiences, with several documentaries competing to get review attention that might position them for later awards consideration. While another Nyff title, Agnes Varda and J.R.’s “Faces, Places” (Cohen), nabbed the best reviews, none did more than modest business.

Jeff Bauman was one of the people who survived the Boston Marathon bombing. Due to that incident, he lost both of his legs but managed to make a recovery with the help of a wide range of people. In 2014, he released a memoir about the experience called Stronger, which has since been turned into a movie of the same name with Jake Gyllenhaal playing him. Here are five things that you may or may not have known about Jeff Bauman: At the Marathon to Cheer for His Girlfriend In 2013, Bauman was standing at the finish line for the

Jake Gyllenhaal will return to the Rome Film Fest a decade after attending its second edition for the film Rendition.

This time around, the actor will participate in the Rome event's popular "Close Encounters" series, which features famous personalities in conversation with festival director Antonio Monda.

Gyllenhaal, who was nominated for an Oscar for his performance in Brokeback Mountain, will discuss his career, which has included very different roles in such films as Donnie Darko, Zodiac, Prisoners and Nocturnal Animals.

Rome Film Fest will also screen Gyllenhaal's new film, Stronger, the true story of Jeff Bauman, who lost his legs in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Both Gyllenhaal and Bauman will promote the film in Rome.

Stronger isn't the first movie about the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, but the film, which stars Jake Gyllenhaal as survivor Jeff Bauman, focuses more on Bauman and his family's effort to overcome a tragedy and move forward in the months after a traumatic event.

"I think it goes beyond the headlines," Tatiana Maslany, who plays Bauman's on-again, off-again girlfriend Erin Hurley in the movie, told The Hollywood Reporter ahead of a recent screening. "Jeff was sort of touted as this hero and that was something that was uncomfortable for him to carry, and really it's about these individual
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Tom Cruise is back in the cockpit as Barry Seal in American Made, which means the Cinemaholics have just landed to discuss what they think about the new film that’s sweeping the box office.

For Mini Reviews, Jon Negroni, Maveryke Hines and Will Ashton cover some exciting new movies and shows worth checking out. Jon and Will saw Battle of the Sexes, starring Emma Stone and Steve Carrell, and have a battle of their own debating the film’s merits.

Nearly 30 specialized films debuted in New York and/or Los Angeles this week. And with Yom Kippur falling right during the weekend, it meant most potentially high-end titles avoided the date (unlike last weekend).

Perhaps the highest-profile among them, “Our Souls at Night” starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda, is debuting on Netflix film at the same time it played a few scattered big city play dates (grosses are not available).

Image Source: Getty / Mike Pont
Jake Gyllenhaal nabbed a feature for Elle this week in support of his new film Stronger, in which he portrays real-life Boston bombing survivor Jeff Bauman. In the profile, Jake admitted to being "nervous" upon meeting the 31-year-old, saying, "It was initially awkward. Inevitably, when you're dealing with a real-life story, there's the knowledge that nothing you can do will ever match what [Jeff] went through."
Related44 Pictures of Jake That Will Have You Saying "Gyllenhaal-alujah!"
In addition to sharing his thoughts on being set up on dates, Jake also opened up about masculinity and the ever-changing ideas of what it means to "be a man." The 36-year-old, who attended the Women's March on Washington with older sister Maggie in January, also shared the biggest lessons he's learned from the women in his life, including his mother, playwright Naomi Foner. Check out his insightful (and swoon-worthy) quotes below.
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"People should do it more often. I absolutely encourage it," Gyllenhaal quips. "There should be more of that in my life."

However, he then implies that he might not have initially understood the question, adding, "When you said 'set you up,' I thought you meant for a prank."

While the Stronger star is open to romantic relationships, he also seems content with being single. "I don’t get lonely. I have myself," he says. "I have a really wonderful group of friends, and I have a life I love in New York City. When you have a foundation that’s strong, you can
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Way back in 2008, Fox Searchlight jumped into Oscar action with Toronto pickup “The Wrestler;” it yielded two 2009 Oscar acting nominations for Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei. Similarly, having lost “Birth of a Nation” as a viable candidate, Searchlight picked up “Jackie” at Tiff 2016 and landed three nominations including Natalie Portman for Best Actress. Last-minute Oscar-hopeful buys are relatively rare; awards campaigns aren’t meant to be rush jobs. However, it sometimes pays to be opportunistic and the 2018 race looks like one of those years.

Eager to prove itself, rising indie Neon plunked down $5 million for North American rights to “I, Tonya” (December 8), even though Margot Robbie and Allison Janney will go up against intense competition in the two Actress categories.

Way back in 2008, Fox Searchlight jumped into Oscar action with Toronto pickup “The Wrestler;” it yielded two 2009 Oscar acting nominations for Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei. Similarly, having lost “Birth of a Nation” as a viable candidate, Searchlight picked up “Jackie” at Tiff 2016 and landed three nominations including Natalie Portman for Best Actress. Last-minute Oscar-hopeful buys are relatively rare; awards campaigns aren’t meant to be rush jobs. However, it sometimes pays to be opportunistic and the 2018 race looks like one of those years.

Eager to prove itself, rising indie Neon plunked down $5 million for North American rights to “I, Tonya” (December 8), even though Margot Robbie and Allison Janney will go up against intense competition in the two Actress categories.

After last year’s three-Oscar haul for “Moonlight,” including Best Picture, A24 wants to prove that was no anomaly. Here’s what the rising young distributor will push this awards season. (Remember: A year ago, “Moonlight” wasn’t viewed as a likely Best Picture contender — much less the big winner.)

Co-founded by David Fenkel, John Hodges, and Daniel Katz, A24 is known for edgy arthouse pleasers that eschew conventional storytelling. “Moonlight” was the company’s first original production; its other box office players include Oscar-winners “Ex Machina,” “Room,” and “Amy,” and smart horror flick “The Witch.” But none have passed the $27 million box office earned by “Moonlight.”

Celebration turned to tragedy in an instant in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Two homemade bombs took the lives of three innocent souls and injured several hundred people, including more than a dozen who lost limbs.
Jeff Bauman (Jake Gyllenhaal) lost his legs as he waited at the finishing line for his girlfriend Erin Hurley (Tatiana Maslany) to complete the marathon. But that was only the beginning of the story that is told in Stronger, which follows Jeff's attempts to walk again and...

An Oscar movie could hit theaters at any time during the year -- as far as the rules are concerned, it only needs to be released between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 to be eligible -- but everyone knows that all of the true contenders arrive in the last quarter of the year.

I suppose some Academy-worthy movies have already been released: Dunkirk, right? The Big Sick and Get Out less likely, but perhaps! I guess some people believe Wonder Woman could really get a Best Picture nomination.... So, instead of considering this our first round of Oscar predictions, think of it as a Ones to Watch list to prepare you as studios start showing off their films that could earn noms at next year's Academy Awards. (Which are still five months away, Fyi, on March 4, 2018.)

Triumph over adversity is drama defined, and Oscar nominations often go to actors whose characters find victory over physical or mental afflictions. The earliest example goes back to 1947; that was the year that non-pro Harold Russell won Best Supporting Actor and a special award for “The Best Years of Our Lives.” Russell was a WWII veteran who lost both of his hands while making a training film. Of note: Of the 59, 27 of these nominations went on to a win. This year’s roster of stars playing afflicted characters includes Jake Gyllenhaal as bombing victim Jeff Baumer in “Stronger,” Andrew Garfield as polio survivor Robin Cavendish in “Breathe,” Bryan Cranston as a millionaire quadriplegic in “The Upside,” and Sally Hawkins in two roles, as an arthritic painter in “Maudie” and a mute lab worker in “The Shape of Water.”

Check out Oscar’s rather astonishing legacy of afflicted contenders below.

Triumph over adversity is drama defined, and Oscar nominations often go to actors whose characters find victory over physical or mental afflictions. The earliest example goes back to 1947; that was the year that non-pro Harold Russell won Best Supporting Actor and a special award for “The Best Years of Our Lives.” Russell was a WWII veteran who lost both of his hands while making a training film. Of note: Of the 59, 27 of these nominations went on to a win. This year’s roster of stars playing afflicted characters includes Jake Gyllenhaal as bombing victim Jeff Baumer in “Stronger,” Andrew Garfield as polio survivor Robin Cavendish in “Breathe,” Bryan Cranston as a millionaire quadriplegic in “The Upside,” and Sally Hawkins in two roles, as an arthritic painter in “Maudie” and a mute lab worker in “The Shape of Water.”

Check out Oscar’s rather astonishing legacy of afflicted contenders below.

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